Beat The Summer Slump, Focus and Make the Most of Your Life

Title: Beat The Summer Slump

Subtitle: How To Stay Focused and Make the Most of Your Life

Author: Janet I. Behm, Nate Hagarty, and Grammarly

Revised from June 2018: A Focused Summer

"What's right isn't always popular. What's popular isn't always right." -Howard Cosell

4-Minute Read

>Focus Is A DECISION

>Busyness does NOT equal effectiveness

>App Addiction

>Email Addiction

>Other People's Emergencies

>Where Does ALL My Time Go?

>MORE FOCUS

Focus Is A DECISION

Focus is not just a state of mind; it's a decision. Whether you're a real estate investor, an employee, A retired businessperson, a business owner, or any other professional, living a life of intentionality has never been more challenging. But remember, the power to focus is in your hands.

Yes, this topic isn't exactly related to real estate, and it's clearly not tax-related. I don't pretend to be any kind of "life coach".

At Utah Real Estate Accountants, we see our role as more than just transactional. We're here to support you in all kinds of decisions that affect your finances, and this issue of focus can certainly have financial implications.

So, again, focus is a decision.

Here are some things that might be hurting it for you.

Just because you work harder doesn't mean that you are accomplishing anything of actual significance.

Many times it's the opposite.

Busyness does NOT equal effectiveness

Sometimes, you find that you are "working harder" because you have fallen into a pit of poor productivity and efficiency.

What I find to be helpful is recognizing how certain habits and practices are very likely sucking all of the life-force from your day's productivity.

As an idea starter, here are four things that may be hindering your momentum. For you, this might not be an issue, so I urge you, therefore, to consider what is currently robbing you of your attention.

These are not all merely related to DIGITAL OVERLOAD, either.

They are all decisions -- the ones you make, and the ones you avoid.

App Addiction

By consciously reducing your app usage, you'll reclaim your productivity and feel more in control of your time. If you're constantly checking Facebook, answering or originating random text messages, or have YouTube alerts turned on, you'll never be as productive as you could be.

A straightforward way to decrease your YouTube use is to remove the app from your phone (YIKES!). Even if you just use the browser to access it, the extra step or two it requires can help your weaker self resist the constant dopamine hit of social media activity.

Email Addiction

Turn off your alerts here, too. Don't leave your inbox continually open when you are engaged in real work.

Because whenever you click, your brain is drip feeding small doses of 'Something-Important-Is-About-To-Happen-Juice' (i.e., dopamine).

Except, it's hardly ever actually urgent. It can usually wait for your actual focused attention.

So, try this out for just one week and see if you accomplish more than you thought possible.

Other People's Emergencies

Emergencies aside, send your calls to voicemail first and return them only during designated times (and consider stating those times in your voicemail greeting). This procedure has three instant benefits.

First, it shows people that you are a focused individual, which they will respect and appreciate.

Second, it makes you a focused person, keeping you on task and freeing you from interruptions you can't anticipate. This freedom from interruptions can significantly boost your productivity and focus.

Third, you can determine if you're the right person to handle the call or if you can delegate it to the right person.

Where Does ALL My Time Go?

As I've mentioned, there's a significant difference between being busy and being productive. If you want to identify where you're just 'busy', keep track of everything you do every 30 minutes, every day, for one week. Then, take all the items that aren't moving you toward your goals and stop doing them. You have the power to delegate them to someone else or hire someone to do them for you.

What will you do with all that extra time? Concentrate only on activities and processes that make money or move you ahead.

MORE FOCUS

The key to more productivity is not more work. The key is more focus. Creating your 'Not To Do' List will reset your priorities, refresh your morale, and could even remake your career. This simple yet powerful tool can inspire you to take control of your life and focus on what truly matters.

Reroute your energy to enjoying more of these beautiful summer days.

Take just one action this week. Then report back on what happened and how you are feeling.

"From Your Balanced Books To Your Balanced Life!"

Warmly,

Janet Behm, Tax Wizard